I have another exciting announcement. (I'm desperately trying to contain my glee here!) Union Pacific has officially announced that it is seeking to restore a BIG BOY TO OPERATING CONDITION!!! It is working with an anonymous third party who is interested in seeing one run again, [ SNIP !! I didn't like the last comment! Doug ]

Very interesting news. It'd be great to see one operating, but I had thought there were a lot of operating concerns about the Big Boys given the length of the train. I thought I had read that UP doesn't have any turn tables large enough to turn the locomotive. The Challenger just barely fits.. They'd have to turn it with Wyes...

As there have been Big Boy restoration rumors in the past, I'd like to hear more if this new 'rumor' comes true..

That is pretty much my understanding. Even in Revenue service they only ran a very limited area due to their size and clearance restrictions. Basically Ogden to Cheyenne. They were cleared to run to LA but never did.

_________________I don't have all the answers.
I don't even know all the questions!

I have done some research on this. While I haven't seen anywhere anything that states or confirms that Union Pacifc officially announced this, I does seem plausible given the evidence and the sources. What really is too bad is the insurance, policy, and company restrictions in the railroad business. I would love to see some of the great operational ALCO's return to the east coast for something like Steamfest at Steamtown, but unfortunately I don't think we would ever see something like that. I'm sure there would be a big demand for cross country steam excursions. Just I don't think the competing railroads would allow it.

Some more good news in the world of steam. I just read that "On Friday, February 22nd 2013, the Virginia Museum of Transportation announced that they were forming a committee to conduct a feasibility study with the goal of returning the 611 to active service. This committee has the intent to consult specialists in steam locomotives and mechanical restoration, engineers, and experts on Federal Railroad Administration guidelines, then report its findings and recommend what would be needed to get the 611 to breathe once again. The website, http://fireup611.org/ run by the Virginia Museum of Transportation, will include updates as they become available. If a favorable recommendation is made, a separate non-profit group will be formed and the fundraising for mechanical restoration will begin. A recommendation is expected between 60 and 90 days after the announcement in late February 2013." GREAT NEWS!!!! Due to the precision of the J1 class' balancing and mechanics, it was often joked that the top speed of a J1 was the nerves of it's engineer. On got up to 110 on the Pennsy's "Racetrack". The engineer had plenty of throttle, but his nerves got the better of him. The only thing better would be to see the 1218 also restored!

It was before my time. What I understand is that her flues needed overhauling, and the NS decided that they would use that as an excuse to discontinue the steam program, citing "Increasing insurance costs, among others" (my interpretation). The 1218 was "sabotaged" when her flues expired. The NS sold all of the equipment in the shops, including the dies for some parts, so that when she needed an overhaul, it would be too expensive, or at least that is what I have heard. I'd like to see a compound locomotive. out on the road. I think that is what the 1218 is. For those who are not familiar with the term, compound locomotives use steam twice. To get an understanding of what I mean, Google "Norfolk & Western Y6b" and look at the images. One set of cylinders is smaller than the other. The larger set of cylinders in front use the low pressure steam. Challenger 3985 is what is called a "simple articulated" meaning that both of the engines (That is what I call the separate sets of drivers) use high pressure steam. Here is how a compound locomotive works. (I'm talking about the Y6b) The steam is routed from the boiler into the smaller, rear cylinders. That steam is then exhausted into the front set cylinders, which are larger because the steam has less pressure, so to get the same force, there must be a larger area. After the steam is used in the front, it goes up the stack. (I would include a picture of a Y6b, but I don't know how. Can anyone help me out?) Am I correct on how a compound articulated works? (I'm 17, btw, and last time I was at a model train show in November (TRAINFEST!!!!), I amazed an old steam engineer with my knowledge of the subject!)

For anyone interested, I found this online. It is a plan to convert the only AT&SF 3460 Class Hudson 4-6-4 to be "Carbon Neutral" by burning (Please don't shoot the messenger) "Bio-coal". They hope to hit 130 MPH with it, hence the name CSR Project 130. For more information on the subject, I direct you to the Project 130 website. the locomotive is the only surviving example of the class, and is a sister to AT&SF 3460 "Blue Goose". If it doesn't work, at least the locomotive will have been given a cosmetic restoration. I, for one, am glad that they took a locomotive that was literally rusting where it sat and are looking for a way to run again.

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